Trading shares on the Internet seems set to become increasingly popular with Irish investors.

NCB Stockbrokers has already led the way as the first Irish stockbrokers to offer an online share dealing service which to date has recorded an average of 2,000 hits per day. It allows investors to trade shares on the ISEQ, FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 and also provides quotes for Irish companies listed on Nasdaq.

Internet share services are widespread, particularly in the US, with huge numbers of investors preferring to transact their business in this way. Surfers will immediately be able to tap into share dealing services operated by companies such as Datek, E Trade, Pacific Brokerage Services, Ceres Securities, Lombard and American Express. Dealing costs tend to be substantially cheaper than those normally charged by stockbrokers and start from around $7 (£5) a trade compared with NCB's minimum charge of £40. Some of these brokers have arrangements which allow Irish investors to buy and sell shares in international markets over the Internet.

Meanwhile, one of the major international brokerages, Charles Schwab is preparing to introduce such a service for Irish and British investors by the end of the year. It will offer substantial discounts on normal dealing commissions for clients using its Internet services, with discounts of up to 20 per cent available in some cases.